Israeli Olympians kicked off bus to Rio games by Lebanese delegation

JTA News & Features | Posted: Monday, August 8, 2016 12:53 pm

Israel’s flagbearer

Israel’s flagbearer, Neta Rivkin, leading her delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 5, 2016. (Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO — Lebanese Olympians refused to ride on a bus with Israeli athletes to get to the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 summer games.

When the Israeli delegation of athletes and coaches tried to board the bus Friday to Maracana stadium here, the head of the Lebanese delegation blocked the entrance.